share the experience

Archive

Uncategorized

Without considering the repercussions of our choices, we act on what’s most rewarding in the immediate.

I coached a young Biokineticist, who was running a practice, for her Boss who was on maternity. Each and every instance of their interaction was bitter. The words and associations were bitter. Although, I only heard one side of the story, the same theory applies. The repercussions of achieving the short-term goal, required the boss to be a bitch. You can only imagine the repercussions to the practice and the moral of the staff member. And after all their interactions of achieving short-term goals, not once, did the Boss look up and see the long-term progress in the business and reward or compliment the staff member.

Without the power of a simple “Thank you”, or to the extent of this case, “how are you?”. The practice and the relationship never flourished. There was scope for the practice to expand and become popular within the community, drawing on surrounding gyms and schools, but the relationship started to rot.

Once the relationship, was irreparable, because the employee had since learnt that her Boss was in fact denying her own failures, the blaming someone else, only then did she realise the power of her position in the company and the mediocrity of the practice thats stood.

With this power, the employee had learnt what to look for when approaching a new job, and so sailed onto finding a job much more rewarding. Not financially, but emotionally. With supporting staff and encouraging Bosses, who wouldn’t hesitate to take her call or offer advice.

I caught up with her recently, and the first thing she said, was that, ‘I got a thank you’. She was elated, and felt the warmth of appreciation shared by the boss.

Simply because of these and many other interactions, she’ll have no reason to look for a job elsewhere, all be because she was thanked.

During our time on this planet, we have a lot of choices to make. Everything in life requires a choice. Even though you might not think certain things require a choice, there was a root where the essence of it all came from. The initial choice you made, at the very root, caused the reaction you are dealing with today. Too often the choices are under estimated, or under valued. The extent of the choice is not processed and so we focus on the short-term goal, instead of the long-term.

Gentle to the touch are hands of the heart labourer, effortlessly moulding hearts and emotions with the passing of the sun.

Until one day, the hands moved to a more malleable substance, with more resistance, more fight, sharp realities and the power to draw blood. Starting with a simple project, involved cutting and joining ends to plans and plans to ends.
Within an instant the hands started to feel warn and over worked. Yet filled with love, the hands went on at a cost. They became red and sensitive, tender to touch as were the hearts they’d previously mended. The metal became supple and effortless as the gentle hands were now numb. The skin became battered and bruised, scared and burnt as metal was moulded, burnt, beat, warmed and beat again.

When the job was done the hands came to life with a burning awakening, acknowledging each and every cut and burn that contained more steel than his heart.

The awakened hands didn’t stop there as they wiped the tears, the fresh blood and new life that makes life a little bit better for all.

What an amazing experience! We arrived here in long pants and beautiful purple shirts, with sweat dripping from every pore in our bodies. Dragging, carrying or lugging heavy bags, packed full of friendships to be made and new beginnings. Still full of life while carrying all the possibilities, cheering and singing our way to the bus, grabbing high fives along the way.

Sitting in the bus was a luxury, simply because the air conditioning wouldn’t be around for another 12 days.

Why go to the world, when the world comes to you at Jamboree! So many cultures and friendships to be made! Already upon arriving, the friendships are stating to form, different countries join in a dance lead by Mexico, others join us in kicking the Soccer ball around. The friendships will go far an wide from here on out.

As true South Africans we made every opportunity of the main path going past our campsite, and the Scouts set up a Spaza Shop for badge swopping. Drawing Scouts from across the world to our site, where quick friendships and super interesting conversations were had. One of the conversations, was about why we are white! The story went along the lines “the cure makes you white”.

Every hour our skin temperature is above 30º, where it should be 24º. It’s so easy to overheat and dehydrate. We’re on a regular 4 to 6 liters of water just to maintain our energy levels. Even at 11pm, it’s 31º, without wind makes it incredibly clammy.

With endless opportunities in camp, the friendships and bonds are far and wide.

Skippy, a Scout in camp, is making the most of his campsite and standing in the main pathway infront of camp, throwing the rugby ball to passing people. So many friendships have been made and the gifts received, it’s absolutely mind blowing for me to understand his ability to simply throw the ball and interact. It’s a simple thrown, but the simple action is a big friendship starter.

During our travels today, we toured some of Kyoto, the oldest city of Japan. With culture and heritage dating back some 600 years. The buildings and land are preserved in the correct manner as to display the true culture of the Japanese and their heritage.

Today we stopped at the majestic golden temple (the word for Japan is Majestic, everything is simply majestic!)! It is surrounded by pristine gardens and the sill mirror lake. During our walks, the heritage and surrounds are too overwhelming to take note of the names. Approaching a shrine, see below, we have been taught to be quiet and respect the deity that stays within.

There was a moment today when the Contingent organizer, Theo, and I went off together and without needing to purchase or stop at any of the shops, we walked through and absorbed the culture as much as possible. Simply taking the correct turns, we headed up and up a hill side. Straddled with shops and curios representing the culture of the Japanese. Low and behold a shrine near the top of the hill.

Approaching the shine, we came across a couple of ladies in traditional dress, some that had gone the full way with the make-up and others that just wore the gown. We kept climbing and slowly but surely reached the top.

Noticing an area where people take off their shoes and enter down through a stairwell. We thought we’d go see! What we thought was the shrine or back end of the shrine might get us closer to the deity. Removing our shoes, we entered down some stairs, into a dark room. Completely blind of what’s ahead, how close you are to the person in front of you, and the cool smooth rock patterns below your now bare feet. Initially the dark is overwhelming, and disorientating, but 30 seconds into the walk, being able to find a wall either side of you, means you on the only route possible.

The darkness is now nothing. Your senses are in overdrive. Your ears pick up the slightest of noises, and your feet feel the patterns in the floor. Completely in another frame of mind, you are thoughtless. Blank, like the darkness in front of you. The sensation of your body is exhilarating, you have a natural head rush, body feels light and energized. You just needed to notice your true state. Now 3 minutes down the passage of darkness, there is light. The most peaceful light appears from the ceiling, shining down onto a rock. The rock is engraved with a symbol, a representation of the deity. You can feel the size of the room, the people moving in it, the person behind you and the presence that this light brings. I placed my hand on the rock and took a moment to feel and be in that space. True to the earth and the ground I was walking on, I headed for the exit door. This I found without seeing, phenomenal! The ability to feel for the exit, without your hands, eyes or ears. I took a couple steps through. Putting our shoes back on, and breathe back in our lungs, we were shocked yet satisfied with the experience we just had.

Something we knew, nobody else on the contingent would have explored that far for the experience.

Every shrine needs it’s respect, much like any religion, but the motion of bowing to the deity, is humbling.

Tomorrow is Jamboree time! The Pre-Tour is over and what an amazing Pre-Tour it has been.

Till then, Chris

PS: I don’t have any pictures of the shrine we visited, you’ll have to see it for yourself. We weren’t allowed to take pictures.

T Christopher Shead

I’m a thought provoking coach, assisting you in seeing the possibilities in your life and broadening your horizons. It’s in the choices we make that determine our direction, you have the power, I’ll assist you to unleash that power from within! Join me to uncover life’s secrets!